as a result of service in these areas. Those personnel who served in an indirect or support role must have served at least six months during the qualifying periods of service. The start date for the medal is 31 August 1957, the date of Malaysia's independence. The cut-off date for service in Singapore is shorter due to Singapore's independence from the Federation of Malaysia on 9 August 1965. Acceptance by Commonwealth countries Australia The Australian government accepted the offer of the Pingat Jasa Malaysia. Over 8,000 applications have since been verified by Department of Defence out of about 12,000 former and current serving members believed to be eligible. The Department of Defence, acting as agent on behalf of the Government of Malaysia, receives applications and verifies the service and eligibility to wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia in accordance with guidelines for foreign awards. On 30 January 2006, the Malaysian Chief of Defence Force, Admiral Tan Sri Dato' Sri Mohd Anwar bin Hj Mohd Nor presented the initial awards of the medal at Government House, Canberra. Admiral Anwar presented the first medals to the Governor-General, Major General Michael Jeffery, and to group of veterans representing different ranks and Services who served during the Malayan Emergency and the Confrontation. The medal was also presented to the next of kin of two posthumous recipients. Distribution to remaining eligible recipients will be by the Directorate of Honours and Awards from within the Department of Defence, on behalf of the Malaysian Government. New Zealand Approval for the right of eligible New Zealand personnel who served as part of the New Zealand's military contribution to Malaysia to accept and wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia without restriction was submitted to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in July 2005. The submission was approved on 7 September 2005. The medal is worn before all foreign awards, but after awards of Commonwealth countries where The Queen is the head of state. Headquarters New Zealand Defence Force acts as the agent for the Government of Malaysia in administering some aspects of the award. More than 3,800 medals have been awarded to eligible individuals with an estimated additional 1,000 eligible individuals who have not applied for the medal. As the Malaysian definition of eligible service is broader than that used by New Zealand, it is estimated that 700 individuals who did not qualify for any New Zealand medals for Malaysian service, are